Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has called for continued power rotation, insisting that Nigeria’s presidency should remain in the South for the next four to six years.
Speaking during a live interview on Channels Television on Friday, Musawa emphasized that zoning remains necessary in Nigeria’s political landscape due to deep-rooted ethnic divisions.
“Zoning is still important because we haven’t fully evolved beyond ethnic politics,” she said. “We are not yet looking at ourselves simply as Nigerians.”
Musawa stressed that after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership, which was Northern-led, it is only fair and democratic for the South to retain power for a reasonable period to maintain political balance.
“It makes sense that power shifted to the South after Buhari. For fairness and unity, it should remain there for at least four to six more years,” she added.
While the minister hopes for a future where Nigerians elect leaders based solely on merit and vision, she admitted that the country is not there yet. Until then, zoning remains a critical tool for inclusion and equity.
“Someday, hopefully, we’ll choose our leaders based on capacity and vision alone. But until then, zoning helps us manage our diversity.”
Musawa also revealed she has penned a patriotic poem titled I Am a Nigerian, aimed at promoting national unity and identity. She noted that the poem will be broadcast again soon on national platforms to inspire a renewed sense of togetherness.
